Experience and Qualifications

Background

Garry has an extensive background in the health industry gained from a variety of roles within a broad range of health projects including:

  • New Hospital Design
  • Review to meet Accreditation
  • Redevelopment Planning
  • Building alterations and extensions.

He had wide-ranging experience following his involvement in many architectural and interior design projects before specializing in the health-care field.

Prior to opening the practice in 1994, he held the position of Health Facility Planner for the SA Health Commission for three and a half years, followed by two years as Principal Health Planner with Woods Bagot where he was involved in an extensive range of projects .

Since commencing the practice Garry has continued to specialize in health facility design and concentrates on providing planning and design services to National and International health and aged care service providers.

The broad based experience Garry has within the health industry has led him to appreciate the role of the consultant and the importance of being able to offer a truly comprehensive service; covering pre-design consultation on regional master planning, initial studies to determine budget parameters, accurate briefing, detailed building design, selection of materials, detailing and construction methods with durability and low maintenance in mind, post-occupancy evaluations and life-cycle cost analyses.

The integration of strategic planning, facilities management, architecture, interior and graphic design and landscape architecture during the briefing and concept development stage of a project greatly assist the client group in achieving an understanding of the opportunities available as a result of the planning process.

Garry is a strong supporter of the consultation process, believing that a good result is assured if open communication practices are maintained and issues are confronted and resolved as a project evolves.

Experience and Skills

We have been involved in the design for change to health facilities across Australia for the last 28 years and have a wealth of experience in the implementation of new strategies to improve the way Health Services are delivered to the community. Our experience covers all aspects of the Healthcare system and ranges from design for remote Aboriginal community facilities to Master Planning for the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, covering Emergency Medicine, Mental Health and Aged Care service delivery planning and design.

Garry Coff is the nucleus of our team. He has remained at the fore-front of Health Facility Design within Australia for the past 28 years and continues to be recognised nationally and internationally as producing the best and most innovative planning within the Healthcare industry. Garry is based in Adelaide and has concentrated his career within the South Australian Health System, acquiring a clear understanding of the local market and issues pertaining to the culture and geography of the community over many years, prior to expanding his client base to include Interstate and International projects.

Innovation in Design

In 2009 Garry was commissioned to assist Aspen Medical to develop a sustainable ‘model of service’ that would underpin on-going Emergency Services at the Caboolture Hospital North of Brisbane. The broadening of Primary Health services and the introduction of Nurse Practitioner and Soft–tissue specialist clinics played an important role in the planning for future services, the development of a sustainable Model of Service and the redesign of physical facilities for the Emergency Department.

Project Briefing

We specialise in the preparation of briefing documents for Health Facilities. He analyses the current data base of information available for the project and consults with the many stake-holders represented within the community served by and related to the organisation. The process requires an open-minded approach, receptive to local community needs, special circumstances and cultural concerns, but maintaining the persistence to ensure all aspects are represented in the planning process.

Risk assessment

Project teams are built around members with extensive expertise and experience in the assessment and management of risk associated with the design of Health Facilities. We recognise that there will be issues raised during the development of the brief that will require extensive consultation to achieve consensus as well as the more obvious physical risks created by the site and location.

Detailed Experience

During the period 1973 to 1984 Garry gained experience in a wide range of architectural and interior design projects, including industrial, commercial and institutional buildings. During this period he was involved in all aspects of documentation and administration of projects in South Australia, Northern Territory, Victoria and New South Wales.

In August 1984 Garry joined the Lyell McEwin Health Service in South Australia as Building Project Officer for the first and second stages of the four-stage reconstruction of the facility. The opportunity to work closely within the hospital management structure provided valuable experience and an understanding of the operational aspects of a major metropolitan health service.

He joined Woods Bagot in July 1987 as Health Facilities Designer, working as part of a specialist team established to provide health-planning services nationally, to both public and private hospital clients. During this period he contributed to the development of the health design capability of the Woods Bagot Group and was involved in high profile facility planning and design.

He left Woods Bagot in June 1989 to take up a contract with the South Australian Health Commission as the sole Health Facilities Planner for South Australia. This position provided Garry with a unique opportunity to be involved with the operational planning and design of a broad range of health facilities, including master planning and project planning for major teaching hospitals, regional health centres and small metropolitan and country health facilities. The emphasis focused squarely on attaining efficiency and value for money without reducing levels of accommodation or patient care.

He represented South Australia on the National Committee for Rationalized Building (NCRB), Health Sub Committee and through this forum has been able to participate in the establishment of current standards and health design directions. Garry rejoined Woods Bagot in November 1992 as Principal Health Planner.

Major projects on which Garry was involved include the amalgamation of the Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital with the Adelaide Children’s Hospital, preparation of Master Planning concepts for the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, Royal Adelaide Hospital and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the closure of the Hillcrest Psychiatric Hospital and consequent devolution of mental health services into the community.

Other projects in which Garry has taken a major role cover a broad spectrum of the industry ranging from Master Planning for hospitals as remote as Ceduna and Roxby Downs, in outback South Australia, the design for office fitouts for the Women’s & Children’s Hospital in North Adelaide and planning and design of Acute Mental Health Inpatient Units and community based support accommodation within Metropolitan Adelaide. Recent Health Facility Planning experience has included the planning of complex clinical facilities including:

  • Garry has recently assisted Woodhead International in a number of projects in Queensland and NSW including:
    • Master Planning and Schematic Design for Hornsby Hospital in the Northern suburbs of Sydney and the Goulburn Hospital and Lockhart Multipurpose Service (MPS) in rural NSW.
    • the development of a Standardized approach for the NSW Government to improve the process of conversion of small rural Hospitals to Multi-Purpose Service (MPS) Facilities.
    • Master Planning and Schematic Design Phase of Redevelopment Proposals for the Logan Hospital, South of Brisbane. The project requires solutions to address growth in Services and Activity of almost 200% by 2021/2022 with works budgeted at approx. $1.6 billion and completion expected in 2016.
    • the development of a Master Plan for the current and future needs of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) responding to the imminent relocation of The Children’s Hospital from the RBWH site to the Mater Hospital site in Brisbane. The planning process included a review of the relationship of the RBWH with feeder Hospitals in the catchment area of RBWH and approximately $800 million of upgrade and expansion to meet the projected needs of the Hospital for the next 10 – 15 years.
  • During the period 1994 to 1998 he conducted a study and project managed the implementation of a pilot project, (commissioned jointly by the Commonwealth and South Australian State Governments) to develop models of service for improved Aged Care within isolated country communities. The pilot project resulted in the establishment of a Commonwealth funded Nursing Home geographically distributed over six (6) rural Hospital sites within the Hills Mallee Southern Region of South Australia.
  • He recently contracted to Woodhead Architects as Project Leader on Design and Documentation of the new Hospital and Medical Centre for the Australian Defence Forces ‘Hardened and Networked Army’ development at Edinburgh, north of Adelaide. The project comprises specialist evacuation, environmental assessment, retrieval and Hospital operations, including Emergency Resuscitation and extensive Dental and Outpatient facilities.
  • Garry has conducted Concept Planning for a 1500 bed Public Hospital at PIZHOU South of Bejing and a 110 bed Private Hospital in Ulan Bataar, the capital of Outer Mongolia and participated as Design leader in Design Reviews of three major Hospital Projects in the city of Bangkok.
  • He has led the design of a number of projects in Asia, working under contract to Vamed Healthcare Services including:
    • Design Reviews of three major Hospital Projects in the city of Bangkok,
    • A new 300 bed Super Specialty Islamic Hospital near Kuantan, Malaysia,
    • Concept Planning for a 1500 bed Public Hospital in the rural centre of Pizhou, South of Bejing,
    • Concept Design for a new 110 bed Private Hospital for the MCS Corporation in Ulan Bataar, Outer Mongolia.
  • Involvement as lead designer for a number of Operating Suite facilities including High Volume Short Stay (HVSS) Surgical Services at Hornsby Hospital for the Northern suburbs of Sydney and proposals for new theatre Concepts for Isolation Surgical Suites in Thailand to support a specialist orthopaedic transplant surgical service.
  • The development of several major Central Sterilizing Services Departments (CSSD), both stand alone and incorporating Theatre Sterilizing Service functions to achieve an efficient, safe environment for in these areas.
  • Planning for Birthing Suite and Delivery services at a number of Health Units including involvement in the planning of suites at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide.
  • Planning and design of the High Level Intensive Care Unit (Brentwood House – commissioned 1996) at Glenside Psychiatric Hospital, which operates as a Statewide service for the residents of South Australia.
  • Facility Planning consultancy for the Design and Construction of the new Roxby Downs Hospital in remote outback South Australia – this project was completed in 1998 and encompasses interesting concepts for small isolated Health Units covering a broad range of services.
  • Development of a sustainable Model of Service for the Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department in rural Queensland and Concept planning options for the upgrade of the Modbury Hospital Accident & Emergency Department in South Australia, to improve safety and observation and to address the need for improvement in the management of Mental Health clients.

Qualifications

Associate Diploma in Building Studies/Architectural, S.A. Institute of Technology (1984)
Architectural Drafting Certificate, Granville Technical College, New South Wales (1976)
CFM Accreditation, International Facility Management Association (IFMA 2009)

Affiliations

Member, Institute of Drafting and Design Australia
Member, Graduates Association, University of South Australia
Professional Member, Facilities Management Association of Australia (FMA)

Personal

Garry was born in Broken Hill, New South Wales in 1954. He is an Australian citizen.